European Parliament€¦ · Web viewMultiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006 Implementation Report 2006 (Long version) June 2007 . Table of contents. Introduction

Multiannual Programme Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006

IIMPLEMENTATIONMPLEMENTATION R REPORTEPORT 2006 2006 (L(LONGONG VERSIONVERSION))

June 2007

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Table of contents

INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................3

CHAPTER 1: ENHANCING GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS OF BUSINESS IN A KNOWLEDGE-BASED INTERNATIONALISED ECONOMY......................................................................7

2006/1.1 - E-BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORK FOR SMES (EBSN)..........................................................................72006/1.3 - REINFORCING SYNERGIES BETWEEN PUBLIC POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF E-BUSINESS FOR SMES........82006/1.4 - SECTORAL E-BUSINESS W@TCH.........................................................................................................82006/1.5 - SUPPORTING INTERNATIONALISATION OF SMES................................................................................82006/1.6 - EUROPEAN BEST TOURISM PRACTICES - (CANCELLED)......................................................................92006/1.7 - EUROPEAN PRODUCTIVITY CONFERENCE 2006..................................................................................92006/1.8 - CONFERENCE GOING GLOBAL: THE CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE BASES ECONOMIES...............102006/1.9 - BENCHMARKING SECTORAL POLICY INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF E-BUSINESS FOR SMES..............102006/1.10 - BENCHMARKING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE E-BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES FOR SMES............................................................................................................................................................................112005/1.1 - BENCHMARKING REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE FOR SMES IN THE FIELD OF IPR. 112005/1.2 - SUPPORTING E-BUSINESS BEST PRACTICE EXCHANGE FOR SMES...................................................122005/1.4 - SECTOR–SPECIFIC PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - (CANCELLED)........................................................................................................................122005/1.6 - IMPACT OF CO-OPERATIVE GROUPS ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THEIR CRAFT AND SMALL ENTERPRISE MEMBERS.......................................................................................................................................132004/1.1A - PROMOTING SMES AND CRAFT ENTERPRISES IN THE AREA OF STANDARDISATION....................132004/1.2 - EXTENSION OF THE “E-BUSINESS MARKET WATCH FUNCTION” - PHASE 2.....................................142003/1.4 - EUROPEAN B2B E-MARKETPLACES PORTAL....................................................................................15

CHAPTER 2: PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP...................................................................................16

2006/2.1 - PACKAGE OF IMPROVED COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH SMES STAKEHOLDERS.............................162006/2.2 - EUROPEAN ENTERPRISE AWARDS.....................................................................................................162006/2.3 - CONFERENCE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION..........................................................................172006/2.4 - PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA....................................................172006/2.5 - STUDY ON START-UP PROCEDURES IN EUROPE - (CANCELLED).......................................................182006/2.6 - EUROBAROMETER ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ATTITUDES.....................................................................182005/2.1 - MAINSTREAMING CSR AMONG SMES..............................................................................................192005/2.2 - THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL AND SPORTING EVENTS ON TOURISM-ORIENTED SMES......................192005/2.3 - PREPARATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOURISM SATELLITE ACCOUNTS (TSA) - PHASE 3....202005/2.5 - SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY IN EUROPE.................................................................................................202005/2.6 - BENCHMARKING POLICIES AND INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF E-LEARNING FOR ENTERPRISES.........212005/2.7 - STUDY ON “THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE TOURISM FACILITIES ON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMES, SERVICE QUALITY, MACROECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT” - (CANCELLED)......................................................................................................................................................212005/2.8 - ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON HIGHER EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY WITHIN NON-BUSINESS STUDIES.........212005/2.9 - INTERNATIONAL SOURCING OF SERVICES - (CANCELLED)...............................................................222004/2.2 - PROMOTING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EUROPE......................................................................222004/2.4 - PROMOTING ETHNIC MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS............................................................................232004/2.6 - FACTORS OF BUSINESS SUCCESS.......................................................................................................232004/2.7 - STIGMA OF FAILURE AND EARLY-WARNING TOOLS........................................................................242004/2.8 - FOSTERING UNIFORM TRANSPARENT MARKET PLACES FOR THE TRANSFER OF BUSINESSES.........252004/2.9 - LEGAL STUDY ON THE VALIDITY AND MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS AND 2004/2.10 - BENCHMARKING NATIONAL E-BUSINESS LEGAL PRACTICES.........................................................252004/2.12 - SOCIAL COVERAGE FOR THE NEW ENTREPRENEURS AND THEIR CO-HELPING PARTNERS............262003/2.4 - STATISTICAL DATA FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY..............................................................................262003/2.8 - USER GUIDE ON THE SME DEFINITION............................................................................................272003/2.9 - MINI-COMPANIES IN SECONDARY EDUCATION.................................................................................272002/2.8 - MANAGEMENT CAPACITY BUILDING................................................................................................28

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CHAPTER 3: SIMPLIFYING AND IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS, IN PARTICULAR TO PROMOTE RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND BUSINESS CREATION.............................................................................................................................29

2006/3.1 - MODELS TO REDUCE THE DISPROPORTIONATE REGULATORY BURDEN ON SMES..........................292006/3.2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SMALL ENTERPRISES..292006/3.3 - BENCHMARKING POLICIES ON E-SKILLS MULTI-STAKEHOLDERS PARTNERSHIP..............................302006/3.4 - EUROPEAN ICT SKILLS AND CAREER PORTAL.................................................................................302005/3.1 - STUDY ON SELF AND CO-REGULATORY PRACTICES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION...............................312005/3.3 - PROGRAMME TO SUPPORT EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES ON TOPICS RELATED TO BETTER REGULATION AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT.........................................................................................322005/3.4 - A PILOT STUDY TO ASSESS CUMULATIVE REGULATORY BURDENS IN SPECIFIC SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY - (CANCELLED)..................................................................................................................................322005/3.5 - CONFERENCE ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMISSION’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT.......322005/3.6 - CONFERENCE ON LEGAL BARRIERS TO E-BUSINESS.........................................................................332004/3.2 - METHODOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DATA COLLECTION ON BUSINESS SERVICES....................342004/3.3 - EVALUATION STUDY OF THE BEST PRACTICES IN THE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF SMES RELATED ACTIONS.............................................................................................................................................342004/3.4 - STREAMLINING AND SIMPLIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENT-RELATED REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPANIES..................................................................................................................................................352004/3.5 - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATION FOR A EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY.......................352004/3.6 - SIMPLIFIED TAX COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES FOR SMES..................................................................362003/3.6 - PROMOTING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTES RESOLUTION [ADRS] SYSTEMS BETWEEN BUSINESSES IN THE INTERNAL MARKET.....................................................................................................................................36

CHAPTER 4: IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY SMES......................................................................................................................................................................37

2006/4.1 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR SMES...............................................................................................372006/4.2 - TOWARDS A MORE EFFICIENT MARKET IN SMES FINANCE.............................................................392005/4.2 - FIFTH ROUND TABLE OF BANKERS AND SMES................................................................................392005/4.3 - EQUITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS...........................................................................................................402004/4.3 - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND GUARANTEE BODIES PROVIDING GUARANTEES TO SMES......................................................................................................................................402004/4.5 - EFFECTS OF TAX SYSTEMS ON THE RETENTION OF EARNINGS AND THE INCREASE OF OWN EQUITY............................................................................................................................................................................412003/4.3 - MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE CREA PROGRAMME.....................................................................41

CHAPTER 5: GIVING BUSINESS EASIER ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, PROGRAMMES AND NETWORKS AND IMPROVING THE CO-ORDINATION OF THESE FACILITIES..........................................................................................................................................................43

2006/5.1 - THE EURO INFO CENTRE NETWORK AND THE RATIONALISATION OF BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORKS..........................................................................................................................................................432006/5.2 - CONFERENCE ON CRAFTS AND SMALL ENTERPRISE.........................................................................442005/5.2 - SETTING UP A REACH HELPDESK......................................................................................................442002/5.2 - THE EUROPEAN E-BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORK FOR SMES (E-BSN)...........................................45

CHAPTER 6: OTHER ACTIONS......................................................................................................................46

2006/6.1 - DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES..........462006/6.2 - ENTERPRISE EUROPE NEWSLETTER AND WEB PUBLISHING PROGRAMME.......................................462005/6.1 - ENTERPRISE EUROPE NEWSLETTER...................................................................................................472005/6.2 - DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES..........472005/6.3 - ENHANCING THE COOPERATION BETWEEN ICT SUPPLIERS AND SMES AT REGIONAL LEVEL........482005/6.4 - DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES..........482005/6.5 - OBSERVATORY OF EUROPEAN SMES................................................................................................492003/6.5 - GUIDE AND AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIONS ON THE IMPACT OF BASLE II......................................49

ANNEX 1 - Execution of the 2006 Budget............................................................................................................51

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Introduction

The MAP in its final yearWhen the Multiannual Programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship (MAP)1 was launched at the end of 2000, it set out to address the "Challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy", indeed this was the title of the Communication2 that accompanied the Commission's proposal for the programme. Ever since, it has been the principal instrument of the European Commission in contributing to creating a business environment that fosters entrepreneurship and stimulates productivity throughout Europe.

Since the adoption of the MAP the economic environment for SMEs has changed, the Union has enlarged, and European enterprise policy has been developed and refined accordingly. Throughout its six years, the MAP continued to address the underlying and persistent obstacles to SME development that were identified at its outset. But its annual work programmes have also provided the basis for supporting our developing policy goals, as set out more recently in the "Modern SME Policy"3.

The MAP has helped national authorities of the participating countries to achieve their objectives in the process of the European Charter for Small Enterprises. During this time the

number of participating countries has also grown4. The five main objectives of the MAP (see box) were found by evaluators to be enduringly relevant. Three types of instrument were used in pursuit of these objectives: (1) policy development projects, (2) financial instruments

and (3) the Euro Info Centres. These instruments have generally served their purpose effectively and efficiently and, as a result, they will continue from 2007, with some improvements under a new legal base, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).

In accordance with the MAP legal base, a full final evaluation was carried out by the consulting firm Infyde in 2004.5 Many of the findings and recommendations of their report were already applied in the development and implementation of the 2006 MAP Work Programme. They also contributed to the development of the CIP.

1 Council Decision 2000/819/EC, OJ L 333/84 of 29.12.2000; European Parliament and Council Decision 1776/2005/EC, OJ L 289/14 of 03.11.2005

2 COM(2000) 256 final/2 of 11.05.20003 "Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme – Modern SME Policy for Growth and

Employment". COM/2005/0551 final4 EU Member States, Candidate Countries (except Croatia) and EFTA/EEA countries.5 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/doc/

sec_2004_1460_en.pdf

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/doc/sec_2004_1460_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/doc/sec_2004_1460_en.pdf

The 2006 Work Programme and Implementation ReportThe Annual Work Programme for 2006 was established by a Commission Decision of 21 February 20066 following the positive opinion of the Enterprise Programme Management Committee (EPMC) on 24 November 2005. It was amended by a Commission Decision7 of 9 June 2006 following the positive opinion of the EPMC at its meeting of 9 March 2006.

This last MAP Implementation Report8 will, as in the previous years, be sent to the members of the EPMC and to the Parliament. It will also be provided to the Enterprise and Innovation Programme Committee (EIPC), which is the management committee of the CIP and which will therefore oversee the future implementation of MAP instruments. Both committees consist of representatives from the authorities of the participating countries. The Implementation Report will also be made publicly available on the web pages of DG Enterprise and Industry.9

This Implementation Report has been set out in six chapters. These reflect the five objectives mentioned above, with a final section (“Other Actions”) devoted mainly to publications, information dissemination and evaluation exercises. As in previous reports, emphasis has been given to reporting on how far the performance indicators established in the annual work programmes have been met. The 2006 Implementation Report is a relatively long report, which reflects the higher number of activities undertaken and completed in the MAP in its final year.

The report also includes an account of the execution of the budget in 2006 (Annex I), which shows the individual budget allocations (total) in the 2006 work programme as approved by the EPMC and the commitments made by the Commission during the year. Also included in this overview are budgetary allocations and commitments made in 2006 related to on-going projects approved by the Committee and initiated in earlier annual work programmes.

Overview of MAP Activities in 2006

In extending the MAP for a further year, to take it up to the start date of the new CIP, no changes were made to the legal base. The Work Programme for 2006 was therefore based on the same three types of instrument as in previous years:

The MAP Financial instruments were designed to improve access to finance for start-up companies and SMEs, by ensuring the availability of credit facilities from commercial banks. Difficult access to appropriate forms of finance is frequently quoted as a main barrier to entrepreneurship and enterprise innovation.10 The financial instruments, managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), aim to ease the supply of debt capital and equity to innovative companies through the provision of loan guarantees and risk capital to the banking intermediaries.

As in previous years, there was a high demand for these instruments in 2006, with some 54,049 having recourse to the MAP financial instruments. Most of the SMEs

6 Commission Decision WP(2006)4937 Commission Decision C(2006)19698 Council Decision 2000/819/EC Art. 4(2).9 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/

programme_2001_2005.htm10 Flash Eurobarometer No 160 on Attitudes to Entrepreneurship

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/programme_2001_2005.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/mult_entr_programme/programme_2001_2005.htm

concerned made use of the SME Guarantee Facility, and a total of 40.4 million euros was financed from this source. This is almost one third of the total amount of 149.2 million euros for all the MAP financial instruments. These figures include the MAP budget as well as additional resources such as contributions to the budget from EEA countries, interest and repayment into the venture capital fund, as well as accumulated commitments from previous years.

The Euro Info Centres (EICs) formed the principal business support network under MAP, providing valuable information, advice and assistance on a wide range of Community issues. To help SMEs find their way through the different services and service providers, the Commission launched the ‘b2europe’ initiative which essentially consists of signposting and mutual referral and information between service providers. In 2006, the EIC network received and answered 280,000 queries on EU matters from 160,000 companies. The top five issues covered included (1) funding opportunities, (2) internationalisation and business co-operation, (3) market information, (4) customs and taxation, and (5) public procurement and tenders. Efforts were also undertaken specifically to inform potential network partners about the new arrangements for business support services under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-13). The Euro Info Centres will continue to run until the end of 2007. From 2008 a new network will be established under the CIP.

The Policy Development Projects covered all of the five objectives of the MAP and related to issues that are regularly addressed in the MAP annual work programmes such as e-business policy, statistics on SME uptake of ICT, enhancing competitiveness in the tourism sector, reduction of regulatory burden, and SME access to finance. In the 2006 work programme, over 20 new policy development projects were launched. Most of the projects for 2006 related to the growth and competitiveness objective as well as the entrepreneurship objective. For new actions, particular focus was placed on the follow-up of the Entrepreneurship Action Plan and the "Modern SME Policy" Communication. Many actions were designed to help national authorities develop their enterprise policies through the identification and exchange of best practices, surveys and analyses, dissemination measures and conferences. Particular emphasis was also placed on visibility and dissemination, with several actions consisting principally of conferences or the award of prizes.

Overview of MAP Budget Execution in 2006

The execution rate of the total budget allocated to the MAP for 2006 was 95.3% (i.e. including projects from work programmes of previous years). The rate in respect of the 2006 work programme was 97.6%.

The budget allocated to each individual action, and the corresponding execution rate can be found in Annex 1.

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Chapter 1: Enhancing Growth and Competitiveness of Business in a Knowledge-based Internationalised Economy

2006/1.1 - E-business support network for SMEs (eBSN)

Short description of the projectThe purpose of this action is to develop the operation of the European e-business support network11 (eBSN), established in 2003, in order to reinforce the networking, exchange of information and knowledge on public policies and public-private partnerships in support of e-business for SMEs. This action aims at providing technical assistance to the functioning of the eBSN.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The eBSN workshop on “Preparing for cross-border eInvoicing: experiences and future challenges” was organised in the frame of the 19th Bled eConference “eValues”, in Slovenia, on 5-7 June 2006. An eBSN Steering Group meeting was organised back-to-back.

The eBSN workshop on "Successful e-business models, especially measures to support the uptake of e-business by SMEs", took place in Vienna on 14 June 2006, under the Austrian Presidency. It was organised in the frame of the Conference on the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The workshop featured successful policies promoting eBusiness for SMEs.

The eBSN workshop on “e-Business solutions for SMEs” was organized in Oulu on 7-8 December 2006, under the Finnish Presidency. This workshop analysed the ICT needs of SMEs and reviewed how the ICT solutions and services market meets those needs, as well as what are the relevant policy responses. An eBSN Steering Group meeting was organised back-to-back.

A call for tender on “Technical assistance for the eBSN”, aiming to continue the operations of the eBSN portal (namely, the collection and presentation of information material about existing e-Business policy initiatives, as well as the management and maintenance of the eBSN portal under the Europa server of the Commission), was published in May 2006. The evaluation procedure was completed in September 2006. The contract was awarded to Archetypon SA and took effect as of 1 January 2007. The eBSN Steering Group will steer the operations of the portal.

Unit in chargeENTR/D4

11 http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do

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http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do

2006/1.3 - Reinforcing Synergies between Public Policies in Support of E-business for SMEs

Short description of the projectA call for proposals aiming at supporting and facilitating the exchange of best e-business policies and practices between e-business policy makers and/or SME support networks12 in order to allow SMEs to better understand e-business processes, improve their skills and participate in e-business networks.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The Call for Proposals13 was launched in May 2006, with a deadline in July. Following the evaluation procedure, six of the proposals were selected for financing and the respective Award Decision was signed in November 2006. All Grant Agreements were signed before the end of the year (with Comunita Montana, Confartigianato, Slovenian Business and Research Association, ERNACT, MFG Baden Württemberg and One NorthEast).


2006/1.4 - Sectoral e-Business W@tch

Short description of the projectInformation gathering on, and analysis of, e-business developments in companies from different sectors and size-classes in the EU. The action also involves the identification of policy challenges and recommendations, as well as dissemination activities.

What has been done and achieved in 2006An open tendering procedure (ENTR/06/19) concerning a multi-annual framework contract for this project was launched and completed in 2006. In full accordance with the original plan for this project, the specifications were prepared during the first quarter of 2006. The deadline for the submission of bids was in August 2006. Evaluation of the bids was completed in September 2006, a framework contract was signed with the selected bidder (a team of 8 companies and institutes, supported by various subcontractors, all lead by Empirica GmbH, from Germany) in December 2006. 14


2006/1.5 - Supporting Internationalisation of SMEs

Short description of the projectThis project examines the policies of the Member States to support internationalisation of SMEs, in particular as regards other EU countries but also expansion to third countries.

12 The term “SME Support Networks” is used within the context of intermediary organisations, i.e. organisations directly reaching a large number of SMEs, such as Chambers of Commerce, EICs and other business associations.

13 CfP – Action No 2006/1.3. of the Grant Programme 200614 All relevant documents are available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/calls/calls.html

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/calls/calls.html

What has been done and achieved in 200626 countries are participating in the project. With the help of an expert group, good practice cases were identified in existing policies that encourage and support SMEs to draw the full benefit from increased opportunities in the European Internal Market and from decreasing trade barriers worldwide. The first expert group meeting was held on 23 November 2006 in Brussels. The project also provided recommendations on how public policies can support SME efforts to achieve international growth and to have a more European and international orientation. The Euro Info Centre network as well as research done by the SME Observatory was used as sources of information on problems faced by SMEs in internationalisation.

Unit in chargeENTR/E1

2006/1.6 - European Best Tourism Practices - (Cancelled)

Short description of the project This project aimed at encouraging national, regional and local authorities to identify and disseminate good practices in areas which are relevant to SME’s in the tourism sector.

The study and the seminar would examine what is happening in the Member States concerning Best Tourism Practices or similar actions, with a principal objective to serve as a tool to encourage businesses in the tourism sector to innovate and to introduce new ideas by adopting or adapting good practice, thereby raising their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness to the highest level.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Having launched and evaluated a call for tenders (ENTR/06/03) for services related to this project, the action had to be cancelled as the relevant budget allocation could no longer be covered under the MAP legal base.

Unit in chargeENTR/I1

2006/1.7 - European Productivity Conference 2006

Short description of the projectThe project included a conference and the creation of a website with the conference material.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The conference “Competitiveness through Productivity” was held in Espoo, Finland 30 August -1 September 2006 and was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry as an event linked with the Finnish Presidency. It attracted 430 delegates from 31 countries. A total of 106 presentations or addresses were given building on recent research and best practices in enterprises and public sector. This includes both a scientific type of approach and practical enterprise approach. All lectures and presentations are available on the website of the European Association of National Productivity Centres (EANPC).15 The proceedings have been published in two separate printed volumes, the first containing the academic proceedings 15 www.eanpc.org

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and the second all non-scientific presentations. A compact disc containing all conference materials has been produced. The website created consists of conference material, with practical examples and means to develop productivity as well as the main points of the presentations. A separate publication will be produced based on the scientific part of the conference.

Unit in chargeENTR/B2

2006/1.8 - Conference Going Global: the Challenges for Knowledge Bases Economies

Short description of the projectOrganisation of a conference (Going global: the Challenges for Knowledge-Based Economies) by the Finnish Presidency.

What has been done and achieved in 2006In 2006 the preparation of the conference continued and the conference was held 21-22 September 2006.16 The conference focused on the challenges that globalisation poses to the knowledge-based economies. It encompassed various theoretical, empirical and pragmatic interrelated aspects of globalisation and their effects on science and technology and the innovation systems, economy, society and competitiveness. Attention was devoted to the various competitiveness-oriented policies, best practices and needs of small open economies that go global. This conference directly supported the Lisbon strategy for EU to become the first knowledge-based economy by 2010. It was a part of the Finnish presidency activities and was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The proceedings were made available towards the end of the year.


2006/1.9 - Benchmarking Sectoral Policy Initiatives in Support of e-Business for SMEs

Short description of the projectA call for tender aimed at collecting information and assessing key existing sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-Business for SMEs at national and regional level, in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US, Canada and Asia.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contract notice was published in May 2006. The evaluation procedure was completed in September 2006. The contract was awarded to a consortium of Empirica GmbH / Databank / IDATE, and took effect as of 1 January 2007. The steering group for this study will be the

16 Web address of conference: http://goingglobal2006.vtt.fi/

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http://goingglobal2006.vtt.fi/

eBSN Steering Group. The study methodology was presented at the eBSN Steering Group meeting, in Oulu, 8 December 2006.


2006/1.10 - Benchmarking Commercially Available e-Business Solutions and Services for SMEs

Short description of the projectThe objectives of this call for tender are to:- collect information and documentation on key sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-Business for SMEs at national and regional level, in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US, Canada, Japan, China, India, South Korea, and Singapore.- analyse and assess those policy initiatives against the pre-defined benchmarking framework, with a view to identifying the most promising policy elements.- organise a workshop to present these policy elements in sectoral policy approaches promoting e-business for SMEs.- prepare and publish a report with good examples and policy elements in sectoral policy approaches to promoting a digital value chain.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contract notice was published in May 2006. The evaluation procedure was completed in September 2006. The contract was awarded to Fraunhofer Institut (IAO) and took effect as of 1 January 2007. The steering group for this study consisted of the eBSN steering group, enhanced by representatives of the ICT industry. The study methodology was presented at the eBSN Steering Group meeting, in Oulu, 8 December 2006.


2005/1.1 - Benchmarking Regional and National Support Service for SMEs in the field of IPR17

Short description of the projectThis project aims to identify, analyse, classify and benchmark support services in the area of intellectual and industry property that are provided in the MAP participating countries and in other non-EU countries such as the USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia. To this end, the contractor would first take stock of existing support services in this area, including those facilitating collaboration between universities and SMEs, through desk research and direct contacts with public authorities. The results deliver a clear and well-structured classification and analysis of the services identified, based on their different functionalities. The project aims at developing specific benchmarking indicators for each layer, and the support services would then be benchmarked to identify the most efficient and effective services in the field of IP protection. Project findings would be consolidated in a benchmarking report be prepared by the contractor.

17 This action is no longer financed from the MAP, but from the Sixth Framework Programme.

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What has been done and achieved in 2006A Synthesis Report was produced and delivered in July 2006, covering all existing support services. The results of the synthesis report have been used as input for the 2007 Broad IPR-Strategy Communication18 and presented at the Patinnova Conference in April 2007. The contractor continued with the second phase of in-depth investigation and benchmarking. The final benchmarking report was completed in May 2007. These results will be used as input for the IPR-Expert Group under the IPR-initiative and the 2007 IPR Communication. A Conference will be organised in October 2007 to present the final benchmarking results.


2005/1.2 - Supporting e-Business Best Practice Exchange for SMEs

Short description of the projectCall for proposals aiming at supporting and facilitating the exchange of best e-business policies and practices between e-business policy makers and/or SME support networks19 in order to allow SMEs to better understand e-business processes, improve their skills and participate in e-business networks.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A Call for Proposals20 was launched in June 2005. Following the evaluation procedure, five were selected for financing and the respective Award Decision was signed in July 2006. As a result, four Grant Agreements were signed in September and October 2006 (with GR-NET, Kareltek, Handwerkskammer, Trier and Cardiff University). They are expected to be completed in May – June 2007. A fifth grant agreement was not signed, because the potential beneficiary (CCI Grenoble) could not re-schedule the implementation and its team following the long evaluation procedure.


2005/1.4 - Sector–Specific Partnership for Sustainable Production and Corporate Social Responsibility - (Cancelled)

Short description of the projectThe project aimed at establishing sector-specific partnerships with industry, public authorities and relevant stakeholders focusing on environmental issues (sustainable production fora) and on societal matters (corporate social responsibility fora). The technical work conducted under the guidance of the partnership would consist mainly of preparatory studies/consultancy, practical pilot projects, conferences and publications, involving calls for tender and/or calls for proposals.

18 Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU, COM(2006) 502 final of 13.09.2006.

19 The term “SME Support Networks” is used within the context of intermediary organisations, i.e. organisations directly reaching a large number of SMEs, such as Chambers of Commerce, EICs and other business associations.

20 CfP – Action No 5 of the Grant Programme 2005

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What has been done and achieved in 2006The project was cancelled to avoid duplicating the work of the High-Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment. The cancellation was also due to the adoption of the Commission Communication on CSR which took place one year later than originally expected, leaving insufficient time to make the necessary financial commitments.


2005/1.6 - Impact of Co-operative Groups on the Competitiveness of their Craft and Small Enterprise Members

Short description of the projectThe aim of the project is to collect information on support services offered by co-operative groups in order to enhance the competitiveness of their craft and small enterprise members in Europe. The contractor selects several co-operative groups with craft and small business members – outside the agricultural sector – in the participating countries. They then identify the services offered by co-operative groups to their craft and small enterprise members, and assess the quality of these services by measuring the satisfaction level of the craft and small enterprise members of co-operative groups by using standardised questionnaires. The Contractor would then assess the economic performance of a sample of crafts and small enterprises being members of a co-operative group. The objective of this exercise is to evaluate the economic benefits of membership of a cooperative group.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The project was initiated in March 2006 when the contract was signed and the first expert group meeting took place in Brussels in December 2006.


2004/1.1A - Promoting SMEs and Craft Enterprises in the Area of Standardisation

Short description of the projectThe aim is to improve the co-ordination and representation of the interests of SMEs within the European standardization committees. SMEs lack sufficient knowledge regarding standards and standardisation. They have difficulties in obtaining relevant information and in understanding and applying EU directives and standards. 80% of European SMEs do not export, therefore European standards (Euronorms) are often considered as an additional burden rather than an advantage. In the new Member States, knowledge and application of standards is even lower than in EU-15. Translation into all national languages is insufficient.

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What has been done and achieved in 2006Continuance of the contract signed with NORMAPME, (July 2005- July 2007), renewable for one additional period of 12 months. NORMAPME’s role is to represent SMEs’ interests in the standardisation technical committees and process.

Continuation of the contract signed with EIM Business and Policy Research, (March 2005- December 2006) to produce an overview of public and private initiatives to improve SMEs and craft enterprises information on, involvement in and use of standards and selecting best practices. A final report was received and presented on World’s Standard Day on 16 October 2006. (This implies a saving in comparison with the budget, as there was no need for a special dissemination event for this purpose.)

Steering committees were held regularly to monitor the contracts and interim reports were received. Two half-day workshops on standardisation issues in the context of the Craft workshops were held in Warsaw (June 06) and Budapest (Nov 06)21


2004/1.2 - Extension of the “e-Business Market Watch Function” - Phase 2

Short description of the projectThe project monitors and analyses e-business developments across different sectors of the European economy. It extends the activities of the e-Business W@tch (third year of implementation), also including the extended e-business survey.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The e-Business W@tch (eBW) extension was implemented as planned. The contractor (Empirica GmbH of Bonn, Germany) delivered the first draft of the 2006 Road Map (RM) in December 2005 and its revised version was formally approved in February 2006. The extended survey was carried out in March-April 2006 (by Ipsos, Germany), covering more than 14,000 telephone interviews and about 80 case studies with companies from 10 different sectors. Twelve sector and thematic studies, the printed synthesis report (230 pages – 1,500 copies), the pocketbook of indicators (80 pages – 3,000 copies) and brochure (24 pages – 3,000 copies) are currently being delivered and the website was updated and maintained. Five workshops were successfully organised, three of them in Malaga, Milan and London and two in Brussels, where one of them were the annual e-Business Event (30/01/2007). Presentations were given in about 15 related events organised by third parties. All deliverables22 were completed as planned, except for some delays for a couple of sector reports.


21 www.normapme.com and www.eim.nl22 All eBW deliverables are available under ‘resources’ at www.ebusiness-watch-org.

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http://www.ebusiness-watch-org/

http://www.eim.nl/

http://www.normapme.com/

2003/1.4 - European B2B e-Marketplaces Portal

Short description of the projectThe objective of the project was to establish a Europe-wide information service on B2B e-marketplaces. It aimed at providing European enterprises, in particular SMEs, with neutral, reliable data on B2B e-markets (e.g. databases, ratings etc.), enabling them to make informed decisions on which marketplaces to use.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The portal “eMarketServices” had already been established in 1999.23 With a large database of approximately 1000 B2B e-marketplaces worldwide, it was selected as an EU grant project. The grant contract has become effective as of 2004 and foresaw duration of two years. At the beginning of 2004, the portal covered around 10 EU countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, New Zealand and Australia. Since the beginning of 2004, the geographical coverage of the portal was significantly enlarged, encompassing most of the EU-25 countries. In all countries covered, national contact points have been established as entry points for requests from the respective countries. The English website has been translated into most official EU languages. The database was restructured, implementing a number of new categories and a new search tool. It has been updated every six months. A rating section has been established, in which marketplaces are evaluated in terms of user-friendliness, reliability, accessibility, service and several other categories. The portal has also published two case studies on successful B2B e-marketplaces every month, as well as a monthly newsletter. The numbers of subscribers for the newsletter has been significantly increased. In 2005, the portal continued improving its service. The continuation of the service was ensured beyond 2005 by asking for financial support from the former financing partners (the Trade councils or chambers of commerce of various EU Member States plus Norway and Iceland). After the end of the EU grant project, the portal remained fully operational in 2006 and 2007.


23 The portal is available on the internet at address www.emarketservices.com.

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http://www.emarketservices.com/

Chapter 2: Promoting Entrepreneurship

2006/2.1 - Package of Improved Communication links with SMEs Stakeholders

Short description of the projectThe project covers a series of studies, services and production of communication tools to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of the information and policy messages for SME stakeholders.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A survey of 400 SME stakeholders was undertaken and the intermediate report of the evaluation was presented to DG ENTR and a group of external communications experts and stakeholders for further input and reactions.An information and communication toolkit was designed and the following elements produced: reprint of information pack (three languages)24, conference stand (in English), on-line guidance tool to EU funding opportunities for SMEs (nine languages finalised), an electronic catalogue of SME policy good practices25 and audiovisual products on the European Enterprise Awards26.


2006/2.2 - European Enterprise Awards

Short description of the projectThe European Enterprise Awards recognise initiatives to promote entrepreneurship at regional and local level.

What has been done and achieved in 2006In the first edition of the Awards, 28 countries organised a national selection receiving altogether 400 entries of which 51 were nominated to the European competition. These results were obtained with a systematic publicity campaign at both European and national levels. A high-level jury evaluated the European nominees and selected 13 finalists who were also given publicity prior to the announcement of the winners. Finally, an award ceremony was held on 7 December 2006 in Brussels in the presence of Commissioner Verheugen, Committee of the Regions President, Michel Delebarre and Finnish Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen. More than 200 participants attended the event representing the 51 nominees, business and regional organisations as well as the national contact points and the media.

24 Available on-line as pdf files here: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sme/index_en.htm25 Available here: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/charter/charter2006_base.htm26 Video news release available on-line here:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/library/enterprise-europe/news-updates/2006/2006-12-04b.htm

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/library/enterprise-europe/news-updates/2006/2006-12-04b.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sme/index_en.htm


2006/2.3 - Conference on Entrepreneurship Education

Short description of the projectThe project includes organisation of a European Conference on Entrepreneurship Education jointly with the Norwegian government as a follow-up to the Commission’s Communication on “Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through education and learning”. The main objectives of this event were to stimulate cooperation between different actors, to exchange good practice across Europe and to identify best ways to move forward in this area based on the recommendations made in the Commission's Communication.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The Conference took place in Oslo 26-27 October 2006, with around 350 participants from all over Europe.27 This event covered relevant issues for the promotion of entrepreneurial mindsets among young people through education, from primary school through university. Among the participants were policymakers, representatives from different departments of public administrations, organisations promoting programmes and activities, business associations, and representatives from schools and universities. It included presentations of around 40 cases of good practice, six thematic workshops, a panel discussion, an informal networking sessions and in the end clear conclusions and recommendations, which were translated into an “Oslo Agenda for Entrepreneurship Education in Europe” The Agenda is a detailed catalogue of initiatives - based on successful experiences in Europe - from which those who have a role in promoting entrepreneurship can pick actions at the appropriate level.


2006/2.4 - Promoting Entrepreneurship in the Audio-Visual Media

Short description of the projectThe project explores how the audio-visual media are used and could be better used to promote entrepreneurship in Europe. A group of national experts with a background in media work nominated by the participating Member States analyse how participating countries use the media, esp. the TV, to promote entrepreneurship and will formulate recommendations how the media could be used to generate a more entrepreneurial culture in Europe. In parallel a study by an external consultant would collect information on and analyse existing TV programmes that promote entrepreneurship in the countries participating in the project.

27 All individual presentations and a “flash report” from the Conference were published on the web at:http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/oslo.htm

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/oslo.htm

What has been done and achieved in 2006The first meeting of the expert group was held. A call for tender for the study was launched, the contractor was selected (Jönköping International Business School, Sweden), a commitment made and a contract signed.


2006/2.5 - Study on Start-up Procedures in Europe - (Cancelled)

Short description of the projectThe aim of this study is to compare the time and cost of starting a company in the participating countries. Some data is already available on the length and cost of start up procedures but there is a lot of variation depending on the source. There are reasons to believe that the time and cost of setting up a company differs from country to country. The study will indirectly promote shorter start up times for new companies and reduced costs for the process.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The study on start-ups was not considered necessary in 2006-2007 since, following the 2006 Spring Summit conclusions where start-up procedures was identified as a priority area in the context of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, similar data was going to be collected through the reporting exercise on the Lisbon Strategy. However, start-up procedures are a priority so far only until the end of 2007 and, if necessary, such a study could be done at a later stage.


2006/2.6 - Eurobarometer on Entrepreneurial Attitudes

Short description of the projectThe Entrepreneurship Eurobarometer has now been in production for several years, and its results therefore permit some analysis of dynamic trends. The “Eurobarometer” is again conducted in 25 Member States plus in the US and EFTA/EEA. Consistent with the established methodology, the questionnaire addresses the general public. It covers issues such as the attitudes towards the choice of becoming self-employed, the feasibility of self-employment, experiences in setting up a business, the role of education and the situation concerning risk taking take over an existing business and business failure. It is drafted by the Enterprise DG with support from the Commission’s specialists for surveys and the researcher from the framework contractor (Gallup Organization Hungary).

What has been done and achieved in 2006The commitment was made and the contract with The Gallup Organization Hungary was signed. The implementation of the survey started in January 2007.


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2005/2.1 - Mainstreaming CSR among SMEs

Short description of the projectThe project28 has two components: 1) the establishment of a group of national experts on CSR and SMEs to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and experience on how best to support and encourage CSR among SMEs; and 2) a call for proposals to support business organisations and networks as well as public authorities in the implementation of the EU Multi-Stakeholder Forum’s recommendations as they relate to SMEs, in particular those aimed at raising awareness and improving knowledge and developing the capacities and competencies to help mainstream CSR.

What has been done and achieved in 2006By end 2006, all five expert group meetings had been held. The expert group report and a collection of good practice descriptions were being finalised. The report was due to be launched at a dissemination event in Brussels on 3 May. Grant agreements have been signed for 16 projects that were selected for co-financing following the call for proposals. An anonymous survey showed that a great majority of expert group members believed the expert group process had a good overall impact and a very positive impact on their awareness of other national initiatives on CSR and SMEs.


2005/2.2 - The Impact of Cultural and Sporting Events on Tourism-oriented SMEs

Short description of the projectStudy aiming at: 1) assessing the social, economic and environmental impact of major cultural and sporting events (MCS events) on destinations and local enterprises, with a special focus on the impact on tourism-oriented SMEs; and 2) proposing recommendations for the successful exploitation of their long-term impact on sustainable growth and competitiveness of the industry of the hosting destinations and of local enterprises, which are active in a very wide range of sectors. The findings of the study constitute the basis for the identification of best approaches and practice, and were used to draft a Handbook dealing with practical recommendations on how to maximise the benefits of the MCS events for the regional economy in a sustainable way. At the end of the project, a conference was organised. This conference would contribute to the dissemination of information, exchange of experience and the transfer of know-how within all interested stakeholders, and thus provide valuable guidance both to the public sector and to the private sector (in particular tourism-oriented enterprises) and to other interested parties, at all relevant levels.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contract with Amnyos Consultants was signed in March 2006 and thus the study was launched. In the first phase of the study the consultant in strict cooperation with the Commission refined the theoretical framework. Ten events were selected for an in depth analysis and key concepts and the main indicators to assess their impacts were defined with 28 The project webpages are online at http://europa.eu.int/comm/csrforsmes

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http://europa.eu.int/comm/csrforsmes

more precision. The team of appraisers started (phase 2) to conduct the study cases according to a common methodology in view of drafting a series of monographs. The outcomes of the study cases were compared and used to draft recommendations. This activity (phase 3) started in June. The final conference was held in Angoulême, France, on 22 March 2007.


2005/2.3 - Preparation of the Implementation of Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) - Phase 3

Short description of the projectThe aim of the project is to help Member States carry out feasibility studies or set up TSAs, to update existing ones or carry out trans-border cooperation projects with other Member States. Seven Member States have been awarded a grant by the Commission (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Poland, Austria, Belgium and Netherlands).

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contracts between the Commission and the beneficiaries were signed in March/April 2006. Four actions out of seven are now officially closed: Three of these were carried out in line with the grant agreement and the final reports have been approved by ENTR/I services while the forth has been terminated because the beneficiary was unable to complete the work foreseen in the grant agreement. For the other three actions, we have received and accepted, totally or partially, requests for amendments to extend the duration of the grant agreements. Recently, we have received a new request for amendment of two of the actions still open. These requests are in the process of being examined.


2005/2.5 - Service Productivity in Europe

Short description of the projectThe overall purpose of the study is to identify the factors enhancing or hampering the productivity performance of the European services firms. Furthermore, the objective of the study is to identify good/best practises at firm level in the sectors studied in order to increase the competitiveness of the European services firms. Finally, the study shall provide recommendations for policy shaping related to improving the framework conditions for European services firms in order to improve their competitiveness.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Since there was a delay, the project did not start in 2005 but in 2006. In 2006 the contract was signed and the work has started.

Unit in chargeMARKT/E2

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2005/2.6 - Benchmarking Policies and Initiatives in Support of e-learning for Enterprises

Short description of the projectThe objective of the project is to benchmark public policies and stakeholders’ initiatives in support of e-learning for enterprises in Europe and to identify the most successful strategies to promote good practices in e-learning. The work is supported by a service contract to assess the impact of national and regional industrial/enterprises policies and stakeholders’ initiatives.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The work started following the signature of the service contract in May 2006. A steering group and a larger eSkills and eLearning Group composed of representatives of Member States and stakeholders have been established. The project was discussed at two major events: the EU eLearning 2006 Conference organised under the Finnish Presidency on 4-5 July 2006 in Helsinki and the European e-Skills 2006 Conference on 5-6 October 2006 in Thessaloniki. The interim report, presenting a synthesis of the situation concerning the e-learning market in Europe and national and regional policies as well as stakeholders’ initiatives in support of e-learning for enterprises, was well received and discussed by the Steering group on 24 November and subsequently by the eSkills and eLearning Group on 15 December 2006. In addition, the ICT Task Force set up by the Commission in June 2006 strongly recommended in its final report delivered to the Commission on 27 November 2006 to further promote e-learning for enterprises, especially small and medium sized enterprises.


2005/2.7 - Study on “The Economic Impact of Providing Accessible Tourism Facilities on Business Opportunities for SMEs, Service Quality, Macroeconomic Growth and Employment” - (Cancelled)

Short description of the projectOn an empirical basis the study examines the economic benefits/impacts of improved quality and accessibility to tourism facilities and tourist destinations/structures (hotels, restaurants, museums, transports, etc).

What has been done and achieved in 2006Project was cancelled because the best bid was withdrawn.


2005/2.8 - Entrepreneurship on Higher Education, especially within Non-Business Studies

Short description of the projectThis project provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the teaching of entrepreneurship in European higher education, both in quantitative and in qualitative terms (methodologies used, problems encountered, best practice cases, etc.). It addresses

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entrepreneurship teaching in all types of institutions (universities, business schools, polytechnics, etc.) and courses (all fields of study, undergraduate and post-graduate level). It dedicates a special attention to the teaching of entrepreneurship within technical and scientific fields of study.

What has been done and achieved in 2006There were two meetings for the Expert Group. A call for tender for a survey on entrepreneurship in higher education was launched and the process with selecting the contractor is completed.


2005/2.9 - International Sourcing of Services - (Cancelled)

Short description of the projectThe project intended to focus on developing a framework for improved measurement of international sourcing and collecting and developing better quantitative measures of the scale and impacts of international sourcing of services giving input to on-going Commission work in this field. The project was to be carried out by OECD with a grant from the Commission.

What has been done and achieved in 2006No commitment was done, the project was not initiated.


2004/2.2 - Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in Europe

Short description of the projectThe project aims to raise visibility of the social enterprise sector and to improve the understanding of its particular attributes and potential role in the Member States. The key distinguishing features of a social enterprise are entrepreneurial spirit combined with the social and societal purpose. They are non-profit oriented, i.e. not primarily aimed at generating income for the owners; surpluses are reinvested to achieve the social aim and to serve the members’ or a wider interest. Main activities include: - Carrying out a study identifying national and regional measures promoting social enterprises and selecting good practices;- Organisation of expert meetings to present interim/final results of the study; - Publication of the results of the study;- Organisation of a dissemination conference

What has been done and achieved in 2006In January 2006 the Inception report was ready. First interim report received from the contractor was ready in June 2006 and the second interim report was finalised in December 2006.

Unit in charge

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ENTR/E3

2004/2.4 - Promoting Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs

Short description of the projectEthnic minority businesses in Europe are characterised by a very strong potential and capacity for entrepreneurship. Though data is not available in all Member States on how many new businesses are started by people with an immigrant background, evidence in some Member States indicates that the impact of immigration on entrepreneurship is increasingly important. In some Member States the percentage of ethnic entrepreneurs (start-ups) is already reported to be proportionally higher than the percentage of national entrepreneurs (start-ups). However, due to the specific problems faced by ethnic entrepreneurs when starting and expanding their businesses, the important economic potential of ethnic entrepreneurship has not yet been fully exploited.

A study has been launched in order to examine the existing business support services devoted to ethnic minority entrepreneurs and to identify good practices and to collect information on existing business organisations of ethnic minority entrepreneurs. The network of Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs (mainly governmental contacts) has been reactivated.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contract for the study on good practices in the promotion of ethnic minority entrepreneurs was signed with FACET-IMES-EMN at the end of March 2006 for duration of 14 months, further extended till 17 months. The interim report was received at the end of November. Starter meetings and steering committees were also held. The Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs Network has been reactivated, the contact list has been updated and a meeting was held on 10/5/2006 on “entrepreneurship”.


2004/2.6 - Factors of Business Success

Short description of the projectThe pilot action collected new information on successful entrepreneurship across the participating countries and developed indicators on motivation for starting up a business, barriers and risks encountered during the first years of existence and business plans for future development. It developed an operational survey tool and methodology for monitoring the factors of business success. In addition, the project generated data across the participating countries. These data were published together with the analytical findings.

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What has been done and achieved in 2006The work progressed and completed as planned in the project description, and has received much attention by researchers, other national statistical institutes and the OECD.29

There were participation from 13 Member States and two Candidate Countries (BG, RO) based on grants from the MAP. Eurostat concluded an additional grant agreement with AT in 2005.


2004/2.7 - Stigma of Failure and Early-Warning Tools

Short description of the projectThe main aims of the project are promoting a better understanding of business failure, dissociating the automatic connotation of the concept “bankruptcy” with “bad” behaviour and encouraging prevention among entrepreneurs “in the danger zone”. The Commission is elaborating together with Member States’ experts and a contractor communication materials to promote better understanding of failure as well as a self-evaluation tool (test) for entrepreneurs for risk-assessment. A part of the project is to organise a conference on insolvency and fresh start.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The Commission organised a conference on insolvency and fresh start on 28 March 2006.The conference was gathering 100 participants from 24 countries. An exit survey was handed out. Feedback from participants was positive.

Regarding the Expert Group, 36 experts from 27 MAP participating countries were nominated. The third expert group meeting took place 7/7/2006 (attendees: 2/5 of the experts), while the fourth one was held 6/11/2006 (attendees: 2/3 of the experts).

The actual implementation for this project differs a bit from the original plan. A call for tenders was re-launched in March 2006, merging the tasks initially foreseen for two separate consultants (an IT consultant and a Communication consultant).


29 Information on the other performance indicators is available at Eurostat website: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu. Results have been released in a "Statistics in Focus" publication.

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http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/

2004/2.8 - Fostering Uniform Transparent Market Places for the Transfer of Businesses

Short description of the projectThe project’s aim is to provide an appropriate framework for «business transfer markets » in the Member States. Through this project the Commission would provide a framework for Member States to agree on common criteria for providing information in the market places that match supply and demand and to formulate recommendations how such databases (– “business transfer markets”-) should be organised.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The following has been done; four expert group meetings, publication of final report (all languages) on the website of DG ENTR and printing and distribution of final report to EPMC, experts etc.


2004/2.9 - Legal Study on the Validity and Mutual Recognition of Electronic Documents and 2004/2.10 - Benchmarking National e-Business Legal Practices

Short description of the project2004/2.9:The purpose of the project was to carry out a study in order to clarify the present situation concerning the national legal and administrative practices with regards to the validity and recognition of electronic documents, thus contributing to the creation of the necessary prerequisites for a better regulatory environment in the fields concerned. This project is closely linked with the below project on benchmarking national e-business legal practices (MAP 2004/2.10).

2004/2.10: The purpose of the project is to benchmark national e-business legal practices with particular emphasis on the fields of e-signatures and e-invoicing as well as contract conclusion and implementation, thus contributing to the creation of the necessary prerequisites for a better regulatory environment in the fields concerned.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Owing to unexpected developments and constraints, the evaluation of the bids received after the launch of the calls for tenders was finalised only late in 2005, so as to allow for the contract conclusion to take place in late December, before the end of the budget year 2005. The execution has been carried out in 2006. Due to the delays in the concluding of the contract, the planning of the execution was adapted. A first meeting of the Steering Group on the monitoring and coordination of the legal study and the benchmarking project took place in March 2006. In order to achieve a much higher initial quality of the 32 national reports (project 2.9) and 25 national reports (project 2.10), it was decided to carry out a pilot report on three countries. Following this test phase, the first version of these national reports was delivered in June 2006. They were discussed during the second meeting of the Steering Group for this study 3/7/2006. Following a wide consultation of the Member State experts

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participating in the Steering Group (necessary but longer than expected), and an exchange of comments with the contractor, an introductory chapter to the national reports (project 2.9) was delivered in July 2006. The first draft of the overall summary report of the 25 national reports was received in late July (project 2.10), and the final version of the Interim Report (projects 2.9 and 2.10) was delivered 9/10/2006. The first draft of the Final Report with the conclusions and recommendations was delivered 16/10/2006. The national reports and the draft Final Report were published on Europa in view of the presentation and discussion of its conclusions and recommendations at the Conference The EU’s legal framework for e-business and innovation on 27-28/11/2006.


2004/2.12 - Social Coverage for the New Entrepreneurs and Their Co-helping Partners

Short description of the projectThe aim of this project is to analyse the link between the quality of the social coverage level and the degree of willingness of the entrepreneur or self-employed person to engage in this kind of career.

The project is organised on the basis of a two-fold approach: - A study on the influence of the social coverage level on the decision taken by the new entrepreneurs at the moment of creating their company: comparison of national legislation; survey on the knowledge of the extent of social coverage by the entrepreneur and his spouse and on the financial capacity of the new business creators to envisage a private coverage (aiming to assess the impact of this knowledge on the entrepreneur’s decision to create his company). The contract was signed in December 2005, for a duration of 18 months.- An expert group on the social coverage of new entrepreneurs and the identification of best practices leading to the promotion of the creation of companies. Six meetings were held between December 2005 and March 2007.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Three experts groups meeting have been arranged, they took place in March, July and October 2006. The Interim report was finalised in July 2006.


2003/2.4 - Statistical Data for the Social Economy

Short description of the projectThis project aims at improving the statistical data on social economy enterprises and is focused on encouraging Member States to adopt and apply the methodology for collection of statistical data through establishment of satellite accounts. Main activities include: - Organisation of a starter meeting in March 2004 raising awareness on the existing methodology on non-profit satellite accounts;

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- Development of manual providing methodological guidelines for the development of satellite accounts for the whole social economy sector (extension of the existing methodology on the non-profit sector). - Publication of the manual and organisation of a dissemination seminar.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The contract was signed in December 2005.30 The Interim and Final reports and the results of the project (Manual providing methodological guidelines for development…) were sent by the agreed deadline. The final version of the Manual (including modifications proposed by the Commission) was sent by the Contractor in December 2006.

Unit in chargeENTR/ E3

2003/2.8 - User Guide on the SME Definition

Short description of the projectThe project entails the drafting, translation and publication of a User Guide to explain the new SME definition. The main objective is the dissemination of information on the SME definition via the Internet and the distribution of printed versions in 22 languages.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Final linguistic checks and publication by OPOCE was done and printing of all versions except for SL and SV has been delivered.


2003/2.9 - Mini-Companies in Secondary Education

Short description of the projectThe project investigates school programmes based on students running a mini-company, in particular at secondary level education, aiming for instance to identify factors of success and to find out how public authorities are supporting the application of these programmes. Raising awareness is also an important objective.

What has been done and achieved in 2006During 2006 a video documentary (15 minutes) and an info-clip (five minutes) on mini-companies has been produced, both for dissemination to policy makers, public administrations, schools, business associations, with the objective of widely promoting this concept by means of concrete examples. This audiovisual material has been translated into 16 languages, in order to allow for the broadest impact at national/local level.


30 The Contractor – Centre international de recherches et d’information sur l’économie publique, sociale et coopérative (CIRIEC aisbl), Liège, Belgium.

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2002/2.8 - Management Capacity Building

Short description of the projectThe overall aims are to take stock of the various experiences across the Member States, whether triggered by governmental or non-governmental institutions, to encourage the Member States and candidate countries to take-up the good practices experimented in other Member States for their own policy development and to set the stage for discussion of possible strategies at European level. The main activities for this project are four expert group meetings leading to an expert group final report with policy recommendations, as well as to a brochure containing good practices.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Final Report published in EN and translated into 17 Languages.


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Chapter 3: Simplifying and Improving the Administrative and Regulatory Framework for Business, in Particular to Promote Research, Innovation and Business Creation

2006/3.1 - Models to Reduce the Disproportionate Regulatory Burden on SMEs

Short description of the projectSMEs are disproportionally affected by regulation: The relative regulatory costs (e.g. measures per employee) for a small company (less than 10 or 20 employees) are significantly higher than for medium-sized or even big companies. A group of national experts nominated by participating countries was collecting information on the various methods that have been used successfully by Member States to reduce the burden of public regulation, in particular the burden on SMEs (e.g. exemptions, reduced/simplified obligations, special support and information, preferential treatment, financial aid etc.). The group discussed the effectiveness of the various methods, and, to the extent possible, the quantitative and qualitative reductions of regulatory burden that they caused. To facilitate the exchange of good practices, a final report should be presented with the results of the work of the group.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Three expert group meetings were held. A fourth meeting was also initially planned, but was not eventually needed, which implies a saving in comparison with the allocated budget. A final report was published in May 2007.


2006/3.2 - Requirements for Accounting Systems from the point of view of Small Enterprises

Short description of the projectA group of national experts with accounting backgrounds analyse various accounting systems applied by sole proprietors and certain partnerships to identify how these accounting systems meet the actual needs of these small enterprises: the group defines the main requirements of accounting systems from the point of view of small enterprises and analyse how the existing accounting concepts in the participating countries fulfil these requirements. In that context the expert group also focuses on the link between internal and external accounting of small enterprises taking into consideration the administrative burden imposed on enterprises by external accounting. Finally, the project provides recommendations on how accounting systems could be improved to meet the information needs of owners/managers of small enterprises.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Convocation of experts has been arranged. The start of the project was delayed. The first meeting of the expert group took place on 4 May 2007; in addition three other meetings are planned for 2007. The project is foreseen to be finalised in the beginning of 2008.

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2006/3.3 - Benchmarking Policies on e-skills Multi-Stakeholders Partnership

Short description of the projectThe goal of this action is to research appropriate legal, financial and institutional frameworks for scalable and sustainable multi-stakeholder partnership development in the field of e-skills in Europe. Good practices will be disseminated (workshop and final report). A steering group and a larger group of stakeholders have been established, composed of representatives of relevant Ministries in the participating countries as well as of experts from industry, associations, social partners and academia. The work is supported and facilitated by a service contract.

What has been done and achieved in 2006An open call for tender was published in April 2006. The work started after the signature of the service contract with the contractor in November 2006. The project work programme and roadmap were presented to the eSkills and eLearning Group, composed of representatives of governments and of stakeholders, on 15 December 2006. The first phase of the work is dedicated to the collection of information and the identification of focus areas and the preparation of an interim report.


2006/3.4 - European ICT Skills and Career Portal

Short description of the projectThe goal of this feasibility study is to explore the possibilities to develop a European e-Skills and Career Portal. Its development has been strongly recommended by the European e-Skills Forum and has also received the support of the ICT industry and trade unions. This was confirmed at the European e-Skills 2006 Conference on 5-6 October 2006 in Thessaloniki. This feasibility study will contribute to further clarify the characteristics, including technical specifications, maintenance, economic and sustainability plan and the demonstration of the main functionalities with a prototype of the website and a small pilot.

What has been done and achieved in 2006An open call for tender was published in April 2006. The work started after the signature of the service contract with the contractor in November 2006. A flyer was produced and the project work programme and roadmap were presented to the eSkills and eLearning Group -which is composed of representatives of governments and of stakeholders- on 15 December 2006. A detailed survey of stakeholders’ expectations has been achieved and its results were released in January 2007. A steering group has also been established and met in February 2007.


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2005/3.1 - Study on Self and Co-Regulatory Practices in the European Union

Short description of the projectSelf-regulatory schemes are tools which, in specific circumstances, may offer efficient alternatives to traditional command and control instruments. They can minimise regulatory burdens and make it easier to adapt the rules to technological and other developments. The 2003 Inter-Institutional Agreement (IIA) on Better Lawmaking, concluded between the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament, also recognises the usefulness of self- and co-regulation, under given conditions.

However, there is currently little knowledge as regards the extent and conditions under which these schemes are used in Western Europe and whether they are accompanied by state intervention or monitoring systems. Such knowledge gap needs to overcome in accordance with the IIA.

The objectives set for this study were therefore (1) to inventory and identify patterns in existing self- and co-regulatory schemes of a sectoral and professional nature in order to (2) propose a set of guidelines and recommendations as regards the criteria, conditions, and minimum content to be considered when designing such schemes which may constitute efficient alternatives to EU regulations for business and professional activities.

What has been done and achieved in 2006During the implementation of the project, it was agreed between the Commission and the consultants to focus on Germany, France, the UK and USA, and to involve 166 (mostly European trade and professional) organisations. 65 of these completed the on line questionnaire, as requested (a response rate of nearly 40%). The study provided a good picture of the concept of self- and co-regulation in France, the UK, Germany, and also the USA. The project led to a final report on self and co-regulatory practices in the EU, identifying a set of useful guidelines and recommendations as to when such schemes constitute efficient alternatives to regulation31. The final report was submitted to the Commission in October 2006.

Initially, a conference was also planned, but was not held, which implies a saving in comparison with the budget.


31 The final report was published on the Europa website of DG ENTR unit B.3: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/regulation/better_regulation/index_en.htm

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2005/3.3 - Programme to Support European Research and Teaching Activities on Topics related to Better Regulation and Impact Assessment

Short description of the projectThe project establishes a programme to support new activities in European universities and other institutes for higher education that will support and strengthen the Commission’s activities under the ‘Better Regulation’ package. The activities eligible for financial support aim at developing specific teaching and training programmes and/or initiate relevant research projects that contributes to the creation of a better regulatory environment for businesses.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Two proposals were selected for this project: one from the ULB and one from the University of Exeter. The ULB is pursuing an extensive research programme while Exeter is organising an international colloquium. Both projects have been launched last year and will end in the first half of 2007. The starter meetings with the Commission were held and for both projects the interim reports were submitted.

There is a saving for this project in comparison with the allocated budget, because a second round of submission of proposals did not take place.


2005/3.4 - A Pilot Study to Assess Cumulative Regulatory Burdens in Specific Sectors of the Economy - (Cancelled)

Short description of the projectThe project consisted of an in-depth analysis of the regulatory environment in four representative sectors identified by the Commission. The study intended to cover: 1) An identification and estimation of the cumulative regulatory burden to businesses, and in particular SMEs. 2) An analysis of these burdensA final Conference was planned to disseminate and publicise the results of the Study.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The project was cancelled as no offers were received following an Open Call for Tenders. However, the scope of the study is now planned to be covered under the new Action Programme on the reduction of Administrative Burdens to be launched in 2007 and completed in by end of 2008, financed under the framework of the new CIP-EIP programme.


2005/3.5 - Conference on the further Development of the Commission’s Impact Assessment

Short description of the projectThis project consists of the organisation of a workshop with researchers from the academic world and think tanks, representatives of stakeholder organisations and NGOs, especially

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those that have already shown their interest in the issue at the occasion of the 3 December 2003 conference, organised workshops conferences or published working documents on Impact Assessment as well as officials from national governments and the European Institutions.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The conference was held as planned. There were over 100 participants, approximately equally distributed over the categories academics, representatives of stakeholder organisations, and public servants (European Institutions, Member States, Candidate Countries), which was according to the objective set by the organisers.32 The quality of the discussions and the level of the participating speakers and discussants were high, even in relation to the original ambitious objective with regard to 'deliverables – quality'. With regard to the objectives concerning implementation and effectiveness the relevance of the discussions, and the additional contacts that were made in the preparation of the conference and during the proceedings themselves were in accordance with our ambitions.

Three sessions (European Institutions and Member States; stakeholder organisations; International Organisations) were also organized, with interesting presentations and very lively debates.


2005/3.6 - Conference on Legal Barriers to e-Business

Short description of the projectThe one and a half day conference "The European legal framework for e-business and innovation" took place on 27-28 November 2006 in Brussels. Interventions and discussions were comprehensive and of high quality. DGs ENTR, SANCO, MARKT, INFSO and JLS exchanged views and discussed their recent legal e-business policies in the context of a large conference in Brussels, providing the basis for closer cooperation future in this field. Beyond presenting the achievements and good legal practices, general suggestions were agreed by the participants on how the legal framework could be further improved to enhance the diffusion and efficient use of e-business by European companies, in particular SMEs.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The conference was a major event for the legal e-business and innovation community in Europe, attended by more than 320 participants. The participants were representatives from the European Parliament, Member States, industry, SMEs, consumers, academia and legal experts. There were also 35 speakers. The printed report of the Conference is still being finalised. Interest in reading the conclusions and presentations online was very high.33


32 Selected contributions of session were disseminated through DG Enterprise and Industry's web site: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/regulation/better_regulation/impact_assessment/conference_ia_200306.htm

33 The 27 main conclusions of the conference are published, together with all other documents, under http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/ict/policy/legal/bxl2006/index.htm

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/ict/policy/legal/bxl2006/index.htm

2004/3.2 - Methodological Development and Data Collection on Business Services

Short description of the projectThe project contributed to new and better knowledge concerning the business services mainly in two ways: by providing new types of information related to cross-border trade and by including more Member States in the harmonised data collection. The survey collected information on: 1) Breakdown of turnover by detailed products, 2) Breakdown of turnover by type of client, 3) Breakdown of turnover by destination (resident, intra/extra EU, and Euro zone), 4) Qualitative information on reasons for cross-border trade and barriers met and 5) Types of cross-border relations.

What has been done and achieved in 2006There were participation from 13 Member States as well as Norway and Romania based on grants from the MAP. The results are analysed in two Statistics in Focus publications published in May 2007. The survey results are available in the Eurostat dissemination database. The Structural Business Statistics (SBS) recast includes a new annex VII on Business Services. The SBS recast is approved for the first reading adoption.


2004/3.3 - Evaluation Study of the Best Practices in the Monitoring and Evaluation of SMEs Related Actions

Short description of the projectThe aim of this project is to improve the administrative and regulatory framework for business by studying existing best practice in order to recommend thematic indicators and evaluation questions in relation to the impact evaluation of policies with an SME dimension. To obtain this goal a final report sets out the recommendations for thematic impact indicators and evaluation questions in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of policies that may have a potential or actual impact on SMEs should be produced.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The finalisation of the expert report and its adoption by them took place in early 2006. There were 87 contributions from 18 participating countries and international institutions, plus eight national case studies. The final report recommends 249 indicators and evaluation questions across five SME policy areas (Technology and e-business, Education and skills, financial issues, Start up and Innovation and RandD).

The report is available on the ENTR web site and from the experts. The expert group will follow-up the project by collaborating in a more ambitious OECD project on this subject. Notwithstanding this we have been informed that as a result of the BEST project the Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies intend to use the concept of programme logic (logic map, result chain) in order to identify possible indicators of results and develop expectations regarding them. The report has also been used as a data source for DG ENTR evaluation work, for example with regards to the ongoing evaluation of data and sources underlying the analysis of the market gaps in access to finance by SMEs.

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Unit in chargeENTR/R5

2004/3.4 - Streamlining and Simplification of Environment-Related Regulatory Requirements for Companies

Short description of the projectWith a view to streamlining environment-related regulatory requirements for enterprises, Best Project assessed the situation regarding the administrative burden and costs to companies and analysed participating countries initiatives (both at national and, where relevant, regional level). It aims to follow up the recommendations made in the Communication on Sustainable Production.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A Conference was organised in June 2006 in order to present the results of the study launched by DG Enterprise on Streamlining and Simplification of Environment related regulatory requirements for enterprises.

The final report34, issued in June 2006 identified 75 examples of best practice and 33 recommendations to Member States and the Commission on simplification. It improved awareness of regulators and industry on measures that could be taken without changing legislation and demonstrated the EC’s practical support to MS’s in preparation of National Simplification Programmes under the renewed Lisbon agenda.


2004/3.5 - Implementation of the Regulation for a European Cooperative Society

Short description of the projectThe Commission convened six working groups of national officials responsible for the implementation of the Regulation (EC/1453/2003 and Directive 2003/72/EC) on the European cooperative Society and of various organisations representing cooperatives in Europe, in order to discuss all matters for which national action is necessary for the implementation and transposition of the Statute into national laws foreseen for 18 August 2006. A lot of questions of interpretation and issues concerning cooperatives have also been examined.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Two meetings were held on 27 January 2006 and on 4 December 2006, where the one in December was the last one for this project. The active participation of MS and sector experts was very high. The presentation of various themes was very complete and exhaustive. The meetings were followed by an exchange of questions and replies between the Commission and the various Ministries involved in the implementation of the Regulation.

Unit in charge

34 The final report of the BEST Project Expert Group: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/environment/index_home/best_project/intro.htm

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/environment/index_home/best_project/intro.htm

ENTR/E3

2004/3.6 - Simplified Tax Compliance Procedures for SMEs

Short description of the projectThe project includes identification of possible solutions for the simplification and improving of tax compliance procedures, in particular for small companies. An expert group collects and analyses good practises in the participating countries.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Two expert group meetings were held on 27 June 2006 and on 24 November 2006. Final meetings will be held in 2007, the report will be available in June 2007.


2003/3.6 - Promoting Alternative Disputes Resolution [ADRs] Systems between Businesses in the Internal Market

Short description of the projectA study was set out to provide concrete data on the balance to be achieved between the type of dispute resolved, the informal nature of ADR, its effectiveness and its promotion among enterprises. Time span of the study: January 2005 – March 2006. The aim was to:- summarise the current situation with regard to mediation in Europe;- analyse, assess and classify the disputes of small businesses based on concrete cases, and assess the economic cost generated by disputes not being settled and what impact this has on European competitiveness; - measure the effectiveness and costs of the main types of ADR in Europe in order to identify best practices;- identify the most effective measures for promoting ADR among SMEs and in particular small businesses, and ways of applying them.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A final report “SME access to Alternative Resolution systems”35 was produced and published in March 2006 as well as the brochure “Business disputes keep businesses from doing businesses”, which was also finalised in March36. EIM (Netherlands) was the consultant for this project.


35 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_rapport_final.pdf

36 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_brochure_final.pdf

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_brochure_final.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_brochure_final.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_rapport_final.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/documents/adr_rapport_final.pdf

Chapter 4: Improving the Financial Environment for Businesses, especially SMEs

2006/4.1 - Financial Instruments for SMEs

Short description of the project(1) SME Guarantee Facility: Provision of co-guarantees, counter-guarantees and direct guarantees to European guarantee schemes and banks providing loans; (2) ETF Start-up Facility: provision of risk capital to specialised venture capital funds for investment in SMEs in their early years; (3) Seed Capital Action: support for the long-term recruitment of additional specialised investment managers by seed capital funds.

What has been done and achieved in 2006(1) SME Guarantee FacilityAll funds available under SME Guarantee were used at the end of 2006. In 2006, demand remained high, in particular under the Loan guarantee and the Micro-credit guarantee windows, and most agreements have been extended to accommodate the needs of Financial Intermediaries. However, in 2006 there was no further demand for “equity guarantees”. As regards the ICT loan guarantee window, like in the previous years there was no demand for this window.

(2) ETF Start-up FacilityAll funds available under ETF Start-up were used at the end of 2006.The recovery of the venture capital market in 2006 had a very significant impact on the number of new investments approved under ETF Start-up. In 2006, the Commission approved 12 new investments in Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) under ETF Start-Up, of which one was cancelled. The net approved amount corresponded to approximately 110 million euros, i.e., 55% of all approvals made by the Commission under the facility since 2002. In total, at the end of 2006 there were 21 investments in VCFs approved by the Commission, corresponding to an amount of 201 million euros.

(3) Seed Capital ActionThe performance of the Seed Capital Action was very poor in 2006, like in previous years. The eligibility criteria under the Facility and the reduced amount of the incentive given had a very significant impact on the lack of projects.In 2006, no new projects were approved under the facility. Instead, four projects were cancelled. In total, at the end of 2006 there were only two projects approved by the Commission and signed, corresponding to an amount of 200,000 million euros. The unused budget amounted to 5 million euros.

Joint European Venture (JEV) programmeThe JEV programme supported the creation of transnational partnerships established by at least two SMEs from different states within the European Economic Area.On 21 July 2004, by a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council, it was decided that the JEV programme should be phased out, and the programme was closed to new applications on 29 December 2004.

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A cumulative total of 323 applications were received, 230 agreements signed, 20 million euros allocated to projects and 3.7 million euros paid out by the end of 2006. It is anticipated that the remaining projects will be closed during the year 2007.

All of these commitments were made from the budget of the original pilot action in 1997 and from the Growth and Employment initiative (1998-2000), not from the MAP budget. However, as JEV was subsequent included under the MAP legal base, information is given in this Implementation Report for the sake of comprehensiveness.

* Cumulative amounts, net of cancellations.


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2006/4.2 - Towards a more Efficient Market in SMEs Finance

Short description of the projectThe purpose of the project was to chart changes in the SME finance marketplace, and to further develop policy coordination and exchange of best practices among Member States. The project had the following parts:- Extending the SME finance survey to the EU-10 Member States.- Improving picture on the availability and use of data on SME finance.- Convening an expert group on microcredit. - Convening an expert group on obstacles to cross-border investments.- Organising four workshops: (1) on pre-seed and seed investments; (2) on using intellectual property in finance; (3) on financing technology transfer; and (4) on investment readiness.- In addition, mezzanine financing was discussed in the context of the Fifth Round Table of bankers and SMEs.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Four workshops and one expert group were organised; reports from each were published in the first quarter of 2007. A survey on SME finance in EU-10 was carried out and the results published. The unit participated in the OECD forum on finance in Brazil, and has closely followed OECD projects on access to finance. The workshops provided valuable information on good practices; the expert group produced a report with recommendations, and the survey produced the information sought. 24 out of 25 Member States and 4 EEA/candidate countries participated in the expert group on cross-border investment. In total over 100 experts and representatives of stakeholder groups participated in the four workshops. The project was delivered in time; the operational deliverables were produced; and the budget kept. (In fact, there was a saving in the budget, because the company used for SME finance service was cheaper than expected.) The issues discussed have been widely accepted as policy goals, and policy learning is taking place.


2005/4.2 - Fifth Round Table of Bankers and SMEs

Short description of the projectThe objectives of this project were to establish an inventory of good practices for all themes of the Round Table. The main planned activities (outputs) of the project were:- Three high-level meetings during three EU presidencies (AT, FI, DE);- A maximum of three expert meetings per topic;- Three final reports for the three themes discussed.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Two high level meetings were held in Vienna and Helsinki. The events were well attended and managed to raise the profile of the topics under discussion, especially transparency and dialogue between banks and SMEs. Technical meetings have also been arranged, where the themes of the Round Table have been discussed in depth by the experts. There were about 15-20 participants per meeting.

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2005/4.3 - Equity for Entrepreneurs

Short description of the projectThe objectives of this project were to: (1) Raise awareness about the importance of venture capital investment in Europe; (2) Increase information about equity financing conditions of SMEs; (3) Collect and disseminate information about the possibilities of setting up a European fund structure for venture capital funds; and (4) Raise awareness about obstacles to the operations of cross-border growth stock markets among policy-makers. The project consisted of (1) A European policy conference on equity finance organised in cooperation with the UK Presidency; (2) A workshop on the merits and possibility to establish a European fund structure that venture capital funds can use do cross-border investments; (3) A workshop on obstacles to cross-border growth-oriented stock market; and (4) A survey of SME financing.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The final payment for the European policy conference on equity finance organised in cooperation with the UK Presidency was made. Project results were publicised.


2004/4.3 - Technical Assistance for Financial Institutions and Guarantee Bodies Providing Guarantees to SMEs

Short description of the projectThe aim of the project was the improvement of the professional capacities of specialised institutions in the field of guarantees in eligible countries identified by the EU. The project length of 24 months was divided into two phases: (1) the assessment of the effectiveness and relevance of guarantee bodies and the training needs of their staff; and (2) the assistance.

The assistance phase comprised the organisation of dissemination conferences and field training action carried out by the secondment of experts to organise and manage training measures in relevant guarantee organisations. Furthermore, an intensive training course for selected staff members of guarantee institutions was organised in September 2006.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Conferences have been organised in all the identified countries (10) except Bulgaria. Field trainings have taken place as planned with some schemes receiving more, some schemes less days of training as foreseen– according to need. The intensive training course was conducted according to plan in September 2006. Participation at the conferences, field trainings and the intensive training course has been numerous: on average over 100 per conference. Field trainings have reached key staff of beneficiary organisations with the number of participants varying according to the size of the scheme. The intensive training course had 94 participants from 17 beneficiary organisations. Most conferences had a speaker from the Commission.

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Both the field trainings and the intensive training course were supervised by Commission officials by their occasional presence. The project is close to completion in terms of deliverables (conferences, field trainings and intensive training course).


2004/4.5 - Effects of Tax Systems on the Retention of Earnings and the Increase of own Equity

Short description of the projectThe project aims to identify possible solutions for the promotion of the use of retained earnings to strengthen the capital base of companies, especially smaller companies. An expert group analyses tax systems and identify best practices in participating countries. A study and several expert group meetings are the main activities.

What has been done and achieved in 2006There were two previous calls for tenders, in May and September 2005, which did not lead to the award of a contract. As a consequence, the expert group meetings had to be postponed. However in 2006 a new call for tender was launched, a contractor was selected and the commitment was made. A service contract to carry out the study was signed in December 2006. The study produces an interim report in April and a final report in October 2007. The second meeting of the expert group is scheduled for 29 May 2007; two other meetings of the expert group are planned before the year end of 2007. The project will produce a summary report of the expert group, in addition to the study carried out by the consultant.


2003/4.3 - Mid-term Evaluation of the CREA Programme

Short description of the projectThe CREA pilot programme was launched in 1998 to increase the supply of seed capital for young small companies and to create a network of seed capital funds in Europe. In 1999, the Commission committed an amount of 8.9 million euros as reimbursable advances to 19 seed funds. The intermediate evaluation was designed to assess progress achieved by the CREA funds after four to five years of management.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The evaluation report37 noted that the CREA scheme was relevant in concept and has been largely cost-effective, but it has been rigid for the participating funds and costly in management terms. The scheme’s administrative complexity has led to slow growth and only larger grant beneficiaries believe that the scheme is worth the effort. In addition, the benefit for the ultimate SME beneficiaries has been indirect and less visible. Under the Commission's 2002 Financial Regulation, direct Commission management of an action such as CREA is not efficient or effective and outsourcing might work better.37 The evaluation report has been published and is available from

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/evaluation_crea.htm.

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/evaluation_crea.htm

The participating venture capital funds expect to continue to provide seed funding, so there is the promise of sustained benefit on the individual fund level, but without continued funding the CREA network is not sustainable.

The evaluation recommended facilitating the procedures for the closure of existing contracts for funds that did not see a benefit in continued participation. The report suggested that the EU could consider funding a new, improved CREA-type network. But this could only be advised if the main procedural and content-related problems could be solved.


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Chapter 5: Giving Business Easier Access to Community Support Services, Programmes and Networks and Improving the Co-ordination of these Facilities

2006/5.1 - The Euro Info Centre Network and the Rationalisation of Business Support Networks

Short description of the projectThe Euro Info Centre network is helping European SMEs better understand and benefit from the European Internal Market and encourage them to both Europeanise and internationalise their products. The EIC network has also become a very significant instrument of the feedback mechanism to the Commission on the problems posed by the implementation of regulations and programmes for the effective operation of the Internal Market. The network consists of about 260 members covering all MAP participating countries acting as the interface between the European Commission and local SME all over the EU, the EEA and Candidate Countries. Correspondence Centres have been set up in some third countries to enlarge the network and facilitate the internationalisation of SMEs.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Information provision: as a whole, the EIC network received and answered a total of about 280,000 inquiries on EU subjects from 160,000 companies. The top five subjects covered were funding opportunities, internationalisation and business co-operation, market information, customs and taxation, and public procurement and tenders. Information watch services are offered by 214 EICs to 94,000 subscribers.Events: the network organised or contributed to over 3,000 events on various EU themes involving more than 100,000 companies.Publications: the EICs wrote around 750 articles, published 630 different newsletters and bulletins, produced nearly 100 databases, 200 policy guides and 300 leaflets, and issued 80 press releases. SME Feedback: the IPM feedback mechanism has been redesigned and improved to become the SME Feedback starting 1/9/2006. The network encoded about 2,928 questions in the IPM feedback database and 1,700 questions in the SME Feedback database; the cases mainly refer to the internal market, taxation, employment and social affairs, environment, external trade, competition and customs. B2Europe: the project was launched in 2005 where the participating networks have agreed to signpost clients to each other; 11 regions were involved at the start of the project. By the end of 2006, over 70 EICs from almost 20 European countries have signed the b2europe charter with other EU-backed networks (especially the Innovation Relay Centres and Business Innovation Centres networks) and local or regional stakeholders. Local Cooperation: the final reports and evaluations have been received for the project; the payment files are being finalised.Training and events: Two steering group meetings were organised as well as 12 training sessions involving about 500 participants and meetings on special topics like for example the think tank on business cooperation. EIC Promotion: Four Newsletters have been issued, the Host structure information sheets have been prepared and "Online Dispatch" messages have been sent out. Additionally, Specific Actions fact sheets and country maps have been prepared.

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New network Call: the call for proposals for the new network under CIP was published in December 2006 in the call site created for that purpose in EUROPA. A comprehensive submission set of documents and the model Framework Partnership Agreement and Specific Agreement are attached to the call text, all published in EUROPA. EIC support structure: the contracts for both CSS and ISS were signed in January 2006 for duration of one year. Amendments for three additional months were signed at end 2006.


2006/5.2 - Conference on Crafts and Small Enterprise

Short description of the projectThe organisation of the 4th European Conference on Craft and Small Enterprises foresee for 16 and 17 April 2007 in Stuttgart a will facilitate broad discussion to gather new ideas and prepare and adapted strategy to promote growth and jobs especially in the small business sector. The results of the two 2006 pre-conference are included in the overall results.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The major achievement of 2006 was the implementation of the two preparatory conferences, Warsaw, June 2006 and Budapest, November 2006. There were 120 participants in Warsaw and 100 in Budapest. There were over 30 national/international speakers from policy institutions and craft and small enterprise organisations at both conferences. The minutes have been disseminated widely and the main conference results provided an input into the 4 th

European Craft Conference in April 2007 and formed a substantial part of the preparatory document.


2005/5.2 - Setting up a Reach Helpdesk

Short description of the projectThe REACH legislation requires the European Chemicals Agency and Member States to establish helpdesks offering service at entry into force. Since the communication between the actors needed improvement to streamline the different approaches developed and to achieve as much synergy as possible, the Commission has launched a project at the EU level to offer a platform for active Member States and regions as well as other stakeholders in a position to provide input to jointly develop recommendations on how to establish a REACH helpdesk for SMEs. The project was called SHERPER (SME helpdesk – expert’s round table planning their establishment for REACH). The core element of this project was an Expert Group of 15 Member States, six EIC, three business advisors and six SME representing organisations. The project was facilitated by Management Partners Europe (MPE).

What has been done and achieved in 2006The project started on in May 2006 followed by a preparatory phase focusing on collecting feed back and opinions from the expert group. Based on this, the expert group worked out recommendations on how to establish REACH helpdesks in two expert group meetings,

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telephone interviews, discussions on ten key issues on Circa, face to face interviews and three EIC case studies in the period from May to September 2006. The results were then discussed at the reflection workshop on 24 October 2006 and 19 jointly shared key recommendations were agreed upon. The final survey report explains these recommendations and describes practical experience on the establishment and maintenance of REACH helpdesks. It was approved in the end of December 2006 and published on the Commission website in the beginning of 2007.

Unit in chargeENTR/G1

2002/5.2 - The European e-Business Support Network for SMEs (e-BSN)

Short description of the projectTo establish a European e-business support network, as envisaged by the eEurope 2005 Action Plan and to provide technical assistance to its functioning. The main objectives are:– To organise five meetings with representatives from participating countries in the programme;– To design, create and maintain an eBSN portal, in three language versions (EN, DE and FR);– To collect and present information material about existing policy initiatives helping SMEs to “go digital”;– To participate actively in thematic eBSN workshops.

What has been done and achieved in 2006Since its establishment by the European Commission, in 2003, the e-Business Support Network for SMEs (eBSN) has grown into a sound policy network, bringing together 200 representatives of public policies or private-public partnerships in support of the promotion of e-business practices to SMEs, from 30 countries in Europe. A report on the achievements of the eBSN 2003-2005 and future challenges has been finalised and was submitted to the EP, Council and the Committee of the Regions in December 2006.


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Chapter 6: Other Actions

2006/6.1 - Dissemination of Information on the European Charter for Small Enterprises

Short description of the projectTo disseminate good practices in the context of the European Charter for Small Enterprises, the aim of the project is to publish a Charter good practice brochure and to organise the 2007 Charter conference with officials and interested stakeholders from all participating countries.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The conference will take place in Berlin in June 2007. A commitment was made in 2006 for the publication of 8,150 good practice brochures which will be published in June 2007.


2006/6.2 - Enterprise Europe Newsletter and Web Publishing Programme

Short description of the projectEnterprise Europe publishes articles in six languages on the web site of DG Enterprise, and selections appear in a free-of-charge 24-page paper quarterly newsletter with a print run of over 33,000 copies. Regular e-mail news updates are sent to over 7,000 subscribers.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The new Enterprise Europe Online site was launched in March 2006. Since then over 20 articles have been published, establishing a collection covering most aspects of DG Enterprise policy areas. The site, in six languages, allows the list of articles to be viewed by date or by theme, corresponding to the sections of the printed newsletter. Two editions of the newsletter were published, in July and November. Subscriptions to the paper edition rose by 7% during the year. 78 email alerts were sent out during the year. There were over 7,100 subscribers to the service in September, at which point the database was merged with another. This is equivalent to an annual increase of nearly 20%.

Activities in 2006 for this project were covered under the exciting contract and commitments from previous years. A 6-month renewal of the contract was delayed to after 2006, so the 2006 budget for this were not committed, but done in 2007.


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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/library/ee_online/index_en.htm

2005/6.1 - Enterprise Europe Newsletter

Short description of the projectEnterprise Europe was a free-of-charge 24-page paper newsletter published quarterly in 11 languages by the DG Enterprise with a print run of 33,000 copies. In addition a regular e-mail alert service (News Updates) was offered to subscribers. An electronic version of the magazine and copies of the e-mail alerts were published on the Enterprise Europa web site.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The final edition of the newsletter was produced and the contract brought to its conclusion.

The printing costs for this project were lower than expected, with implies a saving in comparison to the allocated budget for 2006.



Short description of the projectTo disseminate the results of the Charter and to facilitate exchange of good practice, the aim of the project was to publish the Charter implementation report in a user-friendly publication and to organise the 2005 conference on the implementation of the Charter with officials and interested stakeholders from all participating countries.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The 2005 Charter conference in Luxembourg attracted 307 people from 38 countries, representing 30.4% of the 1,010 invitations sent out.38 The implementation report was not published due to the integration of the Charter reporting into the Lisbon reporting. An exit survey was carried out to measure the satisfaction of the participants at the Charter conference. 17% of the participants responded of which 44% considered the conference very useful and 54% quite useful to attend. 27% would definitely participate and 59% are likely to participate also in the next conference.

The report on the Western Balkans will be printed and some of the money foreseen in this project fiche for the 2006 Charter report will be used to print the 2006 Euro-Med Charter report.


38 Conference website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/charter/conf_2005.htm.

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http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/charter/conf_2005.htm

2005/6.3 - Enhancing the Cooperation between ICT Suppliers and SMEs at Regional Level

Short description of the projectA call for proposals aiming at promoting closer collaboration and mutual understanding between ICT suppliers and SMEs with a view to improving the availability of e-Business solutions adapted to the needs of SMEs. The target audience of this call for proposals is SME intermediary organisations like Chambers of Commerce, business associations or regional development agencies that would put in place a mechanism to foster the cooperation between SMEs and ICT suppliers (e.g. software, hardware or services vendors) at local or regional level.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A Call for Proposals39 was launched in July 2005, with a deadline in September. Following the evaluation procedure, nine of the proposals were selected for financing and the respective Award Decision was signed in October 2006. All Grant Agreements has been signed with INESC INOVACAO, SETE, SEPVE, COPCA, PROMOROMA, South West of England Regional Development Agency, LENTIC, NET BRINEL, GRNET. Three of the above mentioned actions have an indicative 10-month duration and the others an indicative 12-month duration.



Short description of the projectTo disseminate good practices in the context of the European Charter for Small Enterprises, the aim of the project is to publish a Charter good practice brochure and to organise the 2006 Charter conference with officials and interested stakeholders from all participating countries.

What has been done and achieved in 2006The 2006 Charter conference in Vienna attracted 342 attendees participants from 47 countries, representing 33.9% of the 1,010 invitations sent out.40 An exit survey was carried out to measure the satisfaction of the participants at the Charter conference. 20% of the participants responded of which 47% considered the conference very useful and 50% quite useful to attend. 32% would definitely participate and 47% are likely to participate also in the next conference.

8,000 copies of a good practice brochure in 20 languages have been published. The brochure was distributed during and after the conference. By December 2006 a reprint in English, French and German became necessary as stocks were exhausted.


39 CfP – Action No 33 of the Grant Programme 200540 Conference website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/charter/conf_2005.htm.

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http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/charter/conf_2005.htm

2005/6.5 - Observatory of European SMEs

Short description of the projectThe project aims to increase and disseminate public knowledge on the characteristics and specificities of European SMEs and the factors that determine their performance, through the provision of internationally comparable data which are not provided by other sources. To meet this purpose, a general pan-European survey with statistically representative results by business size class, main economic activity and MAP participating country is carried out. The Flash Eurobarometer Framework contract is used and the results will be made available in a summary and on the Internet.

What has been done and achieved in 2006A specific contract was signed in September 2006 with Gallup Hungary (the successful bidder for the call for tenders on the Flash Eurobarometer Framework contract). In October/November 2006, the questionnaire was checked through test interviews. Eurostat was consulted in order to avoid any duplication in data collection activities. The first draft deliverables presenting the results of the general survey, which was carried out in late 2006 (in the respective languages of the MAP participating countries) were submitted in January/February 2007. The final versions of the deliverables, accommodating the comments of the Commission on the draft versions, are expected to be submitted in May 2007.


2003/6.5 - Guide and Awareness-raising Actions on the Impact of Basle II

Short description of the projectThe aim of the project was to prepare SMEs for the new rating culture. To this end two calls for tenders were organised, one for drafting a guide and the second for organising 60 information dissemination conferences aimed at raising awareness on the impact on SMEs of the Basel II accord. The information dissemination conferences took place between September 2004 and December 2005 and successfully raised awareness on the impact on SMEs of changing bank behaviour. The published guide is an information tool that SMEs can use in their dealings with banks.

What has been done and achieved in 2006- 60 conferences were organised in 2004-2005 in 28 countries. An average of 91 participants attended each event.- The project achieved its objectives on time and within the available budgetary resources. - The guide contains clear and well-argued conclusions and instructions and it has been judged useful by users. The guide has been translated into all Member State languages.41 - The project website was one of the main information dissemination tools of the project. It was available in 24 languages, displaying conference information for 28 countries. In total, the website had 32,462 visits.42

41 The guide is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/publications_documents.htm.

42 The conference material is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/capital_adequacy_and_rating_conferences_tab

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http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/capital_adequacy_and_rating_conferences_table.htm




http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/financing/publications_documents.htm


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ANNEX 1 - Execution of the 2006 Budget

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° Activities undertaken during 2006 were financed by 234 650 euros carried over from the 2005 budget.* Activities undertaken during 2006 were financed by 250 000 euros carried over from the 2005 budget.

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